Butter cutting machine



R. F. STEWART BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1928 septfl, 1931,

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. l, 1931. .R. F. STEWART 1,821,363

BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1928 5 sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR UHHHHHI.

lllll IJ Sept. 1, 1931. R. F. STEWART BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 19, 192s s sheets-sheet s BY l I 'L j ATTORNEYS.

Sept. l, 1931. R. F. STEWART 1,821,363

' BUTTER CUTTING uAcHINE Filed .June 19, 192s 5 sheets-sheet 4 l VENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. F. STEWART BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1928 Iii/gia Sept. l,

n R mm NE wr m6 E m M m 111/11fall1,111,111,111/1'1/1, 11111111111111/111/ Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNET? D ,STTS

RICHARD' F. STEWART, OF BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NEW YORK BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE Application filed .Tune 19,

The present invention relates to machines for shaping and cutting plastic substances,

a machine of the above characterl which is simple in; opera-tion and requires very little supervision. It is contemplated that, after once starting the machine, continued operation thereof takes place, requiring only the feeding of the bulk material andthe removingk of the shaped and cut prints.

A further object. of the invention is to provide a. cutting machine which handles the plastic material with no waste and connes such material to certain well defined and restricted paths of movement, thus preventing it from coming in contact with many portions. of the machine. Further and other objects, such as improved delivery and cutting means, as well as means for varying the size of the cut blocks will be apparent as the detailed description of the invention proceeds and reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the cutting machine completely assembled.

Figure 2 is a view inside elevation,` partly broken away and in section, showing the cute ting machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in section, taken on line 3-8 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a plan view, partly broken #i5 away and enlarged, showing the driving means.

Figure 5 is a view in section, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4, and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

5G Figure 6 is a view in section, partly An object of the invention is to providev 1928. Serial No. 286,503.

broken away, and taken on line G-G of Figure 5, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a viewy in section, taken on line s w l-r ofl Figure 8, and looking in the direc;l tion of the arrows. `Figirre 8 is a plan view, enlarged and partly broken aw ay, showing the means for cutting the material into blocks of desired sizes.

Figure 9 is a view in section, taken on line 9 9 of Figure 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is asegmental viewl showing one end of the compressing plunger. a Y

Figure 11 is a view in section, taken on line 11-11 of Figure 10, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a view in section, taken on line 12-12 of Figure 4,' and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a view in section, taken' on line 13-13 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows. 4Figure 14 is a view inside elevation showing one of the pivoted dogs upon which the' reciprocating delivery bed rides. Y

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the dog shown in Figure 14.

Referring to the above drawings, a designates the frame of a machine provided with longitudinally extending channels a which serve asa hed or supporting surface for the structure hereinafter described. Transverse channels a2 support a table ZJ upon frame w, the table 7J being provided with a hopper b into which the plastic material o is placed in bulk. Table b is provided with side walls b2 which converge at b3 and are parallel at b4. The bottoml of the table b, with the till i parallel portions b4 and hinged top b5 form an orifice (Zthrough which the plastic material is forced. The top b5 is hinged at b and may thus be lifted to provide ready access to the interior of the table. Locking levers bl are mounted on bolts bs which are pivoted to the sides of the table' b at b9. These locking levers are spaced in such manner that the top b5 is securely clamped to the tablek whenv the machine is operating. 1Q@

A false top blo is provided at the outer end of the top b and formed with an upwardly extending flange 611 which engages a correspondingly formed groove Z212 in the top b5.

Bolt bis serves as a seat for spring 514 to hold the false top blo against the upper side of the top b5, the false top being so formed as to constitute a continuation of the inner side of the top b5. Adjustable bolt 7015 is threaded tnrough the top and bears upon the false top blo. By screwing the bolt against the false top, the latter may be moved away from the top to diminish the height of the orifice cl. In this manner, the size and weight of the blocks cut may be varied as desired.

The side portions of the table may be formed of U-shaped channels for reinforcing purposes, in which case, the upper flanges bw are provided with notches b to receive the bolts bs. A suitable lining Z218, preferably of wood, is provided on the inner surfaces of the side channels in order to protect the material handled. The top b5 may be formed with reinforcing ribs F11 in order to provide additional strength.

Across the orifice CZ, wires al extend. These wires are spaced at equal intervals and the longitudinal wire Z2 serves to divide the oriice into a lower and upper portion. The wires are mounted upon a closed rectangular frame d3 which is mounted upon the table by thumb screws (Z4. The vertical position of the frame with respect to the table and orifice may, in this manner, be

varied to insure the proper spacing of the wires to give equal sized cuts.

From the orifice d, the material which has been cut into continuous strips of rectangular cross section, passes over rollers e and between side plates e. The latter are mounted upon the longitudinally extending members a by brackets e2 and are formed with vertical grooves es. Mounted upon the longitudinal members al are transversely extending angle bars e4 which serve as guide tracks for a cutter frame e5. This frame is of generally U-shape construction and is provided with legs e6 which carry pins c7. The angle bars e* are formed with slots c* into which the pins el extend, thus holding the cutter frame e5 securely upon the bars 6*. Between the U-shaped frame members e5 and servino' as spacing members, are transverse members e9, between which are mounted cutting wires elo. These wires are mounted at equal intervals and serve to cut the continuous strips of material received from the orilice Z into equal lengths. A handle c is provided on the upper transverse member e9 and enables the frame to be drawn transversely across the path of movement of the continuous strips, the cutting wires @1 being received in the vertical grooves e3 formed in the side plates e. When a sufficient length of material has passed over the rolls e, the cutting frame is moved manually in either direction to cut the -strips into desired lengths, the resulting rectangular blocks passing on over the rolls to the delivery table.

A delivery table f receives the blocks which have been cut into proper lengths by the cutting frame e5 and carries the blocks along the table by mechanism which will be described presently. The table is formed with spaced longitudinally extending and stationary strips j, between which movable strips f2 reciprocate. The movable strips are mounted upon a frame or bed f3 at each side of which downwardly extending arms f* are formed. The frame f3 is provided atboth ends with such arms and to these arms are pivoted generally triangular shaped dogs These dogs are formed with surfaces f5 and fl and corners flo upon certain sides of which the bed f3 rides under certain conditions during its reciprocation. Vhen the dog is ridino' on the side of corner flo adjacent the face f6, it will be seen that the bed is elevated only to the height shown in Figure 3. However, when the reverse movement of the bed takes place, the side of corner flo adjacent face f7 engages the tracksl and the bed is elevated considerably due to the greater altitude of the triangular shaped dog when resting upon the track in this position. During this movement, the movable portions f2 are elevated above the table and serve to carry the blocks away from the cutting frame e5. Tracks fs are secured to the longitudinal frame members a and are formed with notches ff at either end thereof. The corners ,fw of the triangular dogs f5 engage these notches and causes the dov's to be tilted with respect to the bed members f when movement thereof in the proper direction takes place. In Figure 2, the reciproeating bed is shown just prior to its movenient toward the left. Under these conditions, an outwardly extending lug fu on each arm f* serves as an abutment against which the pivoted dogs engage to prevent further pivotal movement thereof. Movement of the bed f causes the dogs to ride along the tracks f8 on the corners flo adjacent the surfaces fl thus elevating the bed above the table At the end of the stroke the corners flo engage the appropriate notches 79 in the tracks and, when reverse movement of tne bed takes place, the dogs are tripped to cause the beveled surfaces f1? to engage the bed and the sides of corner f1 adja* cent the surfaces f ride upon the tracks durinfr this movement. At this time, the clements f2 are below the surface of the delivery table f.

The mechanism which carries the material from the hopper to the orifice and forces it along its path of movement, comprises a ment of the plunger along the sides, the' Wings' engage the converging portions b of the sides and are forced inwardly. This compresses the material Within the chamber formed on the table and causes it to be forced through the ori'licemore effectively. The compressing action of the Wings is due to the fact that they are mounted eccentr'ically with respect to the converging sides The plunger gk is mounted upon longitudinally extending racks 7L which are carried on a reciprocating frame 71,. This frame is finned with a cover plate 71.2 iearwardly of the plunger to prevent the material in the hopper from falling through thereciprocating frame when the plunger is movedjto the extreme left-hand side of Figure G. Brack- "vt mounted upon the stationary side niembers of the table are formed With bifurcated extensions t" Within which a frame member j lies. Frame member carries a stop plate j which prevents the material Within the ifpper from following the cover plata/lt2 When the plunger moves toward the right in Figure 6. i In order to reduce the resistance to th movement of the 'plunger toward the left in Figine G, a suitable portion of the material in the hopper is c-ut before it drops into the position to be moved by the plunger. This cutting is performed by a Wire 7i?S which is mounted upon brackets 71,4 carried by the reciprocating frame 72.. As indicated in Figure 6 the Wire passes over the stop bar j and through the material in the hopper, thus cutting loose a suitable portion of the material. A middle rail h5 is formed on the reciprocating carriage 7b and is provided With shift cams 7L6 for automatically reversing the direction of movement of the carriage 7.1, when it reaches the end of its stroke.

The driving mechanism and means for rcversinfr the movement of the plunger and carriage will now be described. A bracket 7c mounted upon the frame a carries an electric motor 7c Which is coupled to a drive shaft 702. This drive shaft is provided With a worm Which drives a Worm Wheel on shaft 1:3. Shaft 7c3 is mounted in the stationary table and is provided With sleeves formed With pinions 71e4 and 7:24. The sleeves are loosely mounted upon the shaft 7c3 and provided with clutch teeth 705. A third sleeve 7c6is keyed slidably to shaft 7c3 kand provided i racks'lk k'of the reciprocating carriage.

Gears 7G10 and 7311 are also mounted upon the the countershaft v7c3, the former engaging pinion'kl.' This is sho vnin Figure 13 and represents the condition under which the reciprocating carriage and plunger are moved-to the rightin Figure 4. Since very littleV resistance is offered to the movement of the plunger in this direction, the gearing may be such asto afford a fairly rapid movement under these conditions vand movement of the sleeve 76S to engage the clutchteethon this pinion provides suoli Amovement of the plunger. yAsetond countershaft4 7:12 is mounted in the table and carries reduction gears L13 and 701, the'fo'rmer engaging the pinionj7t'f'1'and the latter the gear 7011 on shaft 7c8. It will be seen that the drive from shaft 753 Will be through these gears and result in acorrespondingly slovt7 movement of the plunger to the left in Figure 6; This is in accordance With the conditions existing, since movement of the plunger in this direction is resisted by the material Which isbeing Vforced through the orifice. Upon shaft 7212 a pinion 7; is ymounted to engage a gear 7016. Gear kwis mounted upon a stub shaft 7s which carries a ciankaim ts'pivot ally. Crank arm 7:18 is driven from vthe gear 7c1G through a clutch 7c19,vthe latter being engaged by spring 7.2". Movement o f the crank armi/kwis transmitted to the reciprocating bed plate f3 through connecting rod 7c21 and the bed plate is operated through such mechanism, .it being quite apparent that the gear 7c is driven only when the plunger moves to the left in Figure 6. It is during this movement of the plunger that thematerial is forced out through the cutters and mustbecar fied away bythe delivery table, and the mechanism described above' performs suchy function.

As acontrolling means for the transmission described above, a longitudinal rock shaft Z is mounted on the frame a. Upon this shaft, spaced shifting levers Z are mounted, the latter being formed with cam faces Z2 which 4are'engaged by the shifting cams 7L When the carriage 7a. reaches either end `of its stroke. When the cam teengages lever and the plunger g has movedy to the extreme `left yhand position, cam 'k6 Vengages the cani faceA l on the right-hand lever Z in Figure 6, to shift the sleeve 736 to engage the lower pinion 704 v.in Figure 4. This reverses the movement of the carriage 7al and retracts the plunger. Vhenv the latter Gil r'ea'ches its extreme right-hand position `in Figure 6, the left-hand cam 'its rengagesthe corresponding cam face Z2 on the left-hand lever Z to cause the sleeve 706, to be moved the reverse direction. In this manner, the operation of the plunger is continuous.

The rock shaft Z is provided with a manual lever Z3 which moves in guide Wires Z4. These guide Wires are mounted upon a l'iracket as carried upon the longitudinal frame members a and are provided with an enlarged portion Z5 which represents the neutral position of the clutch sleeve k6. lVhen the'lever Z3 is moved into this position, the operation of the machine ceases, mo ement of the lever in either extreme position causing the corresponding movement of the plunger and reciprocating carriage L.f

While the invention has been described yin connection with the specific'structure shown in the accompanying drawings, itis not to be limited, save. as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A cutting machine comprising a hopper, a plunger for conveying materialv from the hopper to an orifice, cutting means carried by the machine adjacent the orifice to cut material issuing therefrom, a powerl source, a transmission driven by the power source, means to move the plunger in either direction to afford a delivery and a return stroke, a cover plate carried by the plunger to support the material in the hopper in the forward strokeof the plunger, a cutting device carried with the plunger for cutting a portion of the material in the hopper to be fed to the orifice by the plunger on the following forward stroke thereof, a stationary stop mounted above the cover plate to prevent the portion so cut from following the cover plate on its reverse movement, and means by which the movement of the plunger is automatically reversed at the end of eachstroke.

2. In acutting machine having a hopper, in which an orifice is formed, cutting means carried by the machine adjacent the orifice, means for conveying material from the hopper to the orifice, a power source to drive the conveying means, means to receive the material as it passes through the orifice, means to cut the material while on the receiving means, and spaced stationary plates, a bed comprising a plurality of movable plates between the respective stationary plates, means operated by the power source for reciprocating the bed, tracks upon which the bed reciprocates, dogs on the bed for riding on the tracks, and means to vary the position of the dogs during certain of the strokes of the bed to vary the elevation thereof In a cutting machine having a hopper,

in nf'hichan orifice is formed, cutting means carried by the machine adjacent the orifice, means for conveying material from the hopper to the orifice, a Vpower source to drive the conveying means, means to receive the material through the orifice, means to cut the material while on the receiving means, and spaced stationary plates, a bed comprising a plurality of movable plates between the respective stationary plates, means operated by the power source for reciprocating the bed, tracks upon which the bed reciprocates, dogs on the bed for riding on the tracks, and notches in the tracks at the ends thereof for engaging the dogs.

4. In a cutting machine having a hopper, in which an orifice is formed, cutting means carriedby the machine adjacent the orifice, means for conveying material from the hopper to the orifice, a power source to drive the conveying means, means to receive the material as it passes through the orifice, means to cut the material while on the receiving means, and spacedstationary plates, a bed comprising a plurality of movable plates between the` respectiveV stationary plates, means operated by the power source for reciprocating the bed, tracksupon which the bed reciprocates, triangular shaped dogs pivoted on the bed for riding on-the tracks, the heights on ene of' the bases of the dogs being greater than those on the other of the bases, and notches in the tracks at the ends thereof for engaging the dogs, certain of the notches engaging certain angles of the dogs to cause the bed to be supported at the lesser height of the dogs, and other of said notches engaging other angles to cause the bed to be supported at a greater height.

This specification signed this 18th day of June, A. D. 1928. v

Y RICHARD F. STEVART. 

